Indian Journal of Health and Wellbeing

Vijander Singh ¹, C. R. Darolia ¹, T. B. Singh ²

Affiliations
1 Department of Psychology Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra, IN
2 Department of Clinical Psychology Institute of Human Behaviour and Allied Sciences, Delhi, IN

Abstract

Neurological disease may leave the patients in a permanent vegetative state. The caregivers of the patients waiting outside of the ICU remained burdened regarding the outcome chances, whether the patients will come out fully functional or in a vegetative state. Sometimes there perceptions are changed as a result of their knowledge and closeness to the patients. To explore the knowledge, attitude and perception regarding ICU care a semi-structured interview was conducted on the 200 caregivers of ICU patients. Demographic details and responses to a questionnaire assessing the knowledge, attitude and perceptions were recorded. Results of the study shows that majority of the caregivers reported that waiting room was comfortable (78%), and desirous to participate in ICU care (60.5%) and wish the family presence should be mandatory protocol (58%). Almost the whole sample (91.5%) agreed that it was necessary to wash hands before going to ICU. The caregivers reported that they had no knowledge of brain death (44%), lack of knowledge regarding permanent vegetative state (41.5%), high treatment cost is not justified (73.5%) and had negative treatment outcome perception (95%).

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